Man dies in car crash near Karaka

Emergency services were called to the site of the crash at about 11:30am. Photo / File

A man has died after driving off an embankment in a rural town 45km southwest of Auckland central this morning.

Emergency services were called to Karaka to the site of the crash, involving a single vehicle, about 11:30am.

A police spokeswoman confirmed a vehicle had been driving on Linwood Rd in the town, when it crashed.

"The sole male occupant died at the scene."

She said one lane remained shut on that road, between Te Hihi and Kingseat, so delays were expected.

"There are no other vehicles," she said. "We are unsure what's occurred."

The police spokeswoman said the Serious Crash Unit was at the scene.

Because the fatality occurred outside of the official holiday period it didn't add to the Labour Weekend Road toll which stands at three.